Former Sri Lanka National Cricket Selection Committee Chairman Pramodya Wickramasinghe has instructed his lawyers to initiate legal proceedings against the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Transformation Committee over the termination of his appointment.
Wickramasinghe confirmed to The Daily Morning Sports that he had directed his lawyers to file a case after receiving no positive response to a Letter of Demand (LOD) he had previously sent to the Transformation Committee.
“I instructed my lawyers to file legal action against the SLC’s Transformation Committee,” Wickramasinghe said.
“I had previously sent them an LOD, to which there has not been any positive response, and it forced me to initiate legal proceedings against the SLC, as I had no other option as my arbitrary removal from the Selection Committee caused me a loss of income, reputation and opportunity.”
The former Sri Lanka cricketer, however, declined to disclose the amount he intends to seek through the legal proceedings.
Wickramasinghe, a member of Sri Lanka’s historic 1996 World Cup-winning team, was removed as chairman of the national selection committee on May 21 following recommendations made by the SLC Transformation Committee.
The selection committee headed by Wickramasinghe had been appointed by Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage in December 2025 for a two-year term.
The other members of the committee were Vinothen John, Indika de Saram, Tharanga Paranavithana and Rasanjali de Alwis.
Dispute over compensation
Wickramasinghe’s decision to pursue legal action comes amid controversy over the manner in which the selection committee was removed and the subsequent payments made to its members.
SLC Transformation Committee Secretary Prakash Schaffter had previously acknowledged that ex-gratia payments were made to the four members of the selection panel other than Wickramasinghe.
Schaffter said the payments were made on humanitarian grounds rather than being considered compensation for the termination of their appointments.
Wickramasinghe, however, had not been favourable towards the reported payments made to the other members of his committee.
Reports at the time indicated that no formal reasons were provided and that no due process had been followed when the Wickramasinghe-led committee was removed.
His latest legal move is therefore expected to bring renewed scrutiny to the circumstances surrounding the termination of the committee and the decisions taken by the Transformation Committee.
New selection committee appointed
Following the removal of Wickramasinghe’s panel, the Transformation Committee appointed former Sri Lanka pacer Kapila Wijegunawardena as the chairman of a new five-member national selection committee.
Amal Silva, Brendon Kuruppu, Waruna Waragoda and Vanessa de Silva were appointed as the other members.
Wijegunawardena and his committee subsequently took over responsibility for national team selections as Sri Lanka prepared for a busy international calendar.
Wickramasinghe had previously served as chairman of selectors in 2021 and returned to the position in December 2025.
His first tenure ended following Sri Lanka’s disappointing performance at the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in India.
The latest legal challenge adds another complication to the sweeping changes being implemented within Sri Lanka Cricket under the Transformation Committee, which was appointed following the resignation of the previous elected administration.
The case could also bring greater attention to questions surrounding the contractual rights of officials appointed to key positions within Sri Lanka Cricket and the procedures followed when such appointments are terminated before the completion of their agreed terms.
